22,152 Garden Web Discussions | Roses
The only thing that's ever worked reliably for me is the Scarecrow Motion Sensor water sprayer from Do Your Own Pest Control. It's $50, but worth it to save the hundreds in damage they'll do. You can watch videos of it in action on YouTube.
The best part- it's safe and harmless to the critters. I've had mine for 2 years. I hope you'll get more blooms soon!
I just buy Alfalfa pellets from the feed store and put it in the planting hole or work into top layer around the plant. Saves alot of time ( and mess) and acts as a slow release as it breaks down. I learned that from our regional president of ARS so figured it must work- and it does!
I second the method of dressing the plants with alfalfa pellets...I heard this from experienced gardeners. One day in the pet store we bumped into an old friend of my DH's, she was there to buy the pellets for her roses, then DH told me the rose growers around always use this method. Next year instead of buying rose fertilizers I will simply buy some alfalfa pellets and miracle grow...plus we make great compost every year.
I wouldn't make a blanket statement that minis are more prone to blackspot. Where I live even very disease resistent roses get blackspot, like my Julia child Floribunda which is so disease resistent for others. I have two potted minis that I do not normally spray that don't get blackspot at all. One of my mini's is orange and the blooms do fade on it, but I don't think it's due to the sun as much as it's just the way the bloom declines as it ages. My mini is in part shade. Post a picture for us when it blooms, I'd love to see it.
Thank you all for the information and encouragement. I will try to be patient (never my strength:) and hope for the best. I was just reading an article today saying that stock investors should learn from gardeners: focusing on long term and managing the uncertainty. Well said then.
Vivian
Rosecandy - Thank you, no apology needed, your enthusiasm is sufficient. Andreak - I think right now I have around 100 roses. Some hybrid teas and floribundas I have two of, but not all of them. I have a thing about them being at that perfect stage, so that is when I try to cut them and when I cut them last week, most of the bushes had quite a few blooms on them.
Henry, great article! I have a few roses where the entire cane is brown, but there's growth on the bottom. I figured I would wait awhile to see what canes are alive. With this past harsh Winter, I think a good amount of patience is in order - and a good sized pocket book to replace all of the dead roses. :-)
Thanks again to everyone. I am starting to feel like it's possible to enjoy roses again. :)
gallica: Thanks for mentioning about the garden clubs; it jarred my memory and now I recall there being a rose sale put on by a nearby garden club a while back. I didn't give it much thought because the nurseries had been so discouraging, and the prices at the garden club sale were $30 and up. I guess I thought the garden club was selling the nursery roses for ridiculous prices. Now that I think about it more, it must have been a real rose sale and perhaps I'll be smart enough to cash in this time. And I do remember riku now that you mention him. He was in Saskatchewan or Manitoba, I think. I'll look up his posts.
plantloverkat: I checked on that thread and found a lot of roses to look into. Thanks!
canadian_rose: I appreciate the heads-up on Chrysler Imperial, as that's what started this whole thing. :) It's good to know it won't be a great grower because she's touted as a "climber" and I was going to arrange a small garden around her climbing. Now I won't. That saved me a lot of hassle. I had a good laugh picturing myself telling my husband about why I want him to drive me around in fall and collect other peoples' bags of leaves. :) But I'm intrigued to be honest; and I just might be crazy enough to try that method if it will allow me to grow roses. I'll take a look at your methods (anywhere specific I should look?) as I am also very interested in growing roses in pots. I've heard others say it (in this thread, too) and I have a few questions such as, do you water them? But I am going to stick Chrysler Imperial in a pot for now anyway.
true-blue: I looked up Cornhill...thank you! I was so used to going to Hortico (I know there are divided opinions, but I always bought there and had good success) and picking up whatever rose my heart desired. Cornhill might just be my link to trying different roses that aren't stocked here. I really didn't know you could grow that many kinds in this climate. Thanks again.
Most welcome. If you go to the far north gardening you might find people who are ready to trade hybrid spinosissima roses suckers.Prairie peace is one such rose.
Here is a link that might be useful: Prairie peace
Oh lovely!!
I just planted a bare root of Buxom Beauty. What do you think of this rose?
Your Love Song is soooo pretty! Such a lovely rose!
Tropicana has the shade of orange that, to me, is just perfect!!! Wow!
Which fragrance do you like better - from:
Buxom Beauty or
Sheila's Perfum
Thanks!
Carol
Can anyone recommend a type of glove for working roses
?
Gloves for working with roses, yes. Goatskin.
Now for the woman who got stuck.Do you spray your roses? If so, I think you should see a Dr right away and take the spray bottle with you. I feel Dr's and antibiotics were put here for our use when we need them.